Handset hanger



Sept 22, 1964 w. v. FIELDER, JR 3,150,239

HANDSET HANGER Filed Sept. 30, 1960 A 2 Sheets-Sheet l INV E NTOR mam Kulm@ Sept 22, 1954 w. v. FIELDER, .JR 3,150,239

HANDSET HANGER Filed Sept. 30. 1960 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 4 ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,150,239 HAYDSET HANGER William V. Fielder, Jr., Glen Arm, Md., asslgnor to The Bendix Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. Sil, 196i), Ser. No. 59,571 11 Claims. (Cl. 179-146) This invention relates to support brackets for telephone handsets or other devices and more particularly to a self-securing hanger for supporting a telephone handset or similar device in a suspended position from a vertical wall or other supporting member.

Telephone equipment has been provided in the past for supporting a conventional telephone handset 1n a cradle which is generally shaped to lit the outline of the receiver. `Nhile conventional arrangements of this type for supporting a handset when not in use are satisfactory for general home installations, many services require a more secure, convenient and compact support for the handset. In mobile service particularly a support for the handset is required which will store the instrument in a convenient location which is out of the way when not in use, and which securely holds the instrument against vibration and shock and acceleration forces which are transmitted to the handset bracket by virtue of the motion of the vehicle in which it is installed. It is thus necessary that the instrument be securely retained against dislodgment from intermittent large scale forces and at the same time rmly secured against vibration or chattering resulting from continuous intermittent forces or vibrations. In addition to these requirements it is, of course, necessaryl that the handset instrument be readily available for use with a minimum of eort in withdrawing the instrument from the supporting bracket and replacing the instrument therein when the use has been completed. It is particularly important in mobile applications, where the use of the instrument is quite extensive and becomes routine with the operator, that the return of the instrument to the support bracket be an operation which can be performed with a minimum amount of care and still achieve a secure retained position for the handset since the personnel using the handset may not take sufficient time properly to engage a handset with a hanger that requires ext-ra manipulative acts.

lt is an object of the present invention to provide improved handset hangers or a telephone handset or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple unitary handset hanger which securely retains a telephone handset without requiring any movable parts or spring biased retaining means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a handset hanger which will substantially and automatically seat a handset which is positioned only very approximately in the hanger and released to seat itself under the force of gravity.

Another object is to provide a handset hanger which in addition to securely holding the handset and readily seating the handset which is dropped into the hanger, provides ready removal of the handset without having to overcome any restraining forces.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FEG. l is a side elevation view of one form of handset hanger supporting one form of handset on a vertical wall;

PEG. 2 is a top pian view of the handset hanger;

FIG. 3 is an elevation sectional view of the handset ,hanger of FlG. 2 taken along the line 3 3;

3,15,239 atented Sept. 22, 1964 ice FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the hanger with a handset shown in phantom view in the secured position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modied form of hanger with a handset shown in phantom; and

FIGS. lA through 5A are views similar to FIGS. 1 through 5 respectively of a modiication.

The present invention provides a substantially rigid telephone handset hanger in the form of a plurality of converging surfaces so arranged that the upper portion of the hanger provides a relatively wide opening for receiving the receiver portion of the handset as it is placed therein with a generally downward movement and with the various surfaces converging so that when the handset reaches a position of rest the handset is contacted along the flat face of the receiver ear piece, at opposed points on the rear curved portion of the receiver housing, and at opposed points in contact with the handle of the handset substantially directly below the previously mentioned opposed points. The structure may be such that a single point of contact obtains upon the receiver ear piece or more than one point or an area of contact is established. The remaining four points of contact provide a converging clamping action which automatically becomes elective as the receiver moves in a slight downward arc which is characteristic of the motion involved in hanging a handset on a wall bracket.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 5, one form of the hanger in accordance with the invention will be described. In FIG. 1 is shown a handset 10 hanging in a bracket 11 to support the handset 10 in a substantially vertical position. As best seen in FIG. 3 the bracket 11 comprises a face plate 12 which slopes away from a back face 13 in the downward direction. Extending from a body portion 14 are a pair oi concave shaped opposed members 16 having interior surfaces 17 which converge in the downward direction. The arms 16 terminate in converging lobes 13 which have interior surfaces 19 which converge downwardly with the face plate 12 as well as with each other. The surfaces 19, 17 and 12 may be smoothly joined and the surfaces 17, 19 formed as a continuous surface with smooth transitions therebetween. The lobes 13 continue in a downward direction to provide an opening between edges 21, the upper portion of the edges 21 being the termination of the surfaces 19. The lower portion of the edges 21 join surfaces 22 which converge laterally to a cross-member 23 which strengthens the projecting arms 16.

The face plate 12 of the bracket may be arranged to make plane area contact with the plane of a circle on the receiver ear piece. As the receiver 10 is placed into the bracket the normal procedure is to position the receiver 10 in a position indicated at 10 in FIG. 1 whereupon the release of the receiver allowing the same to fall under the influence of gravity would result in a generally swinging motion as indicated by the arrow 25, accompanied by a falling motion as the receiver 10 settled into the position shown. In this position the receiver ear piece makes contact with the bracket face plate 12 as previously stated, and is urged in contact therewith by the force exerted by contacts with the rear portion of the receiver housing at the point of engagement with the surfaces 19. The point of engagement with the surfaces 19 tends to wedge the handset 1G into a snug tit relative to transverse forces by virtue of the downward convergence of surfaces 19 toward one another as well as toward the face plate 12. The rest position of the receiver 10 also corresponds with the position of Contact by the interior surfaces 21 with handle portion 26 of the handset 10. This contact with the handle 26 provided by the surfaces of 21 stabilizes the receiver 1t) with respect to a swinging motion which would be possible with respect to the Y contacts with the receiver housing made by surfaces 19 and a rotary motion of the plane circle contact at the surface 12.

` The weight of the transmitter portion of the handset depending from the handle 26 supplies sulhcient force to retain the handle 26 in contact With the surfaces 21 and cooperates with the contact made by surfaces'19 and 12 to stabilize the receiver with respect to all motions except for a rotary motion opposite to that indicated by thearrow 25. This opposite rotary motion corresponds to the normal action of placing the hand on the handle 26 and lifting the handset for normal use and in this operation the handset 10 comes free of the bracket 11 with substantially no resistance whatever. It is to be noted that due tothe ,inward restraining influence of the surfaces 1 9 a mere translational force away from the surface on which the mounting surface 13 is secured will not dislodge the handset since a mere horizontal force is opposed by the combination of contacts and the effective couple which they apply to the receiver 1t), in the absence of a lifting force-.relieving the forcecomponents due to the downward weight of the handset. A lifting and turning force Yhowever such as results from the application of the hand to therreceiver forY lifting it for normaluse simultaneously tends to relieve all of the action of the converging surface pairs 21, 19 and 12 while sliding the receiver housing 10 upward in the direction of the sloping surface 12 to relieve'the pressure resulting from the contact bctween the surfaces 19 and surface 12.

As previously mentioned, the converging surfaces of handset hanger provide points of contact for the portions of the handset placed thereon which'are effective securely to hold the handset without ,spring action of any kind. Thesev points of contact are designated inthe various iigures as points B- B onthe surface 12, points A-A on .the surfaces 19, and points C-C on the surfaces 21. The -exact location of these'points on their respective surfaces will be the point of contact between the surface and thenappropriate portionof the handset as determined bythe exact physical dimensions of therhandset. y

tieular althoughthe points B B vlie on a plane surface 1,2,fdue tothe shape of the ear piece of an ordinary handset only two points of contact with the surface 12 ordinarily obtain.

Vaperture 3'1'Athrough the portion of the handset which hanger automaticallydeects the switch operator to turnY off kthe equipment.

' Referring now to FLG. 6 an alternative embodimentof Y the 'svetbnls ,Shawn in which the prpnltiesdcrbs Y The handset as described may berprevidedY Vwith'an Y In par- Y Ybtairied from a properly'formed steel Vrod252.V AsshownV iiiliIG.l 6;the`rod 321provides aghorizontal portion v,33.

i 'The extensions 34-V are` con-l prevenrspring action Iaman rodea may ,be secarse@ thespport extensions 41..thereby providing dimensional Y stabilitylbetween'the contact points'CC when 4the re-Y ceiver is .'placedl-inf Ythe bracket.-

'Ihe handsethangersY described inV FIGS. Vl-6 areforrned Ito acoxrinodate a; particular shape handset as'illustratedV inphantehiinlnros-i5 ande; The centenaire ofthejbracketillustratedfhwevrrrnay be Ymodified tacomf n the'pbell shape type of handset fldllustrated' ir' improved mddiiication ot the handsetjoi thejprlesent Yinmvewntion iisshown inFIbGSflA; 'through 5A which Y 4 correspond respectively to the views shown and described in FIGS. l through 5. The modification shown in FIGS. 1A through 5A corresponds in general with the description previously given with the addition on the interior surfaces 19 of projecting tabs 42. The projection provided by the tabs 42 adapts this embodiment to accommodate both types of handset illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5 for example. With this arrangement the tabs 42 providev the Vcontact points A-A on surfaces 19 for the ,bell shaped handset (FIG. 1A) while for the other type handset (FIG. 5A) the points A- A provide the corresponding contact with the handset. Further modications in shape include shoulders 43 on the surface 12 to provide contacts BB and the ledges 44 which support the under surface of handle 26. The ledges 44 slope inwardly toward surface 12 and also with respect to surfaces 21 (i.e. ledges 44 are not perpendicular to surfaces 21) to provide a shallow V-bottom trough in whichV :the handle 26 is cradled between contacts C-C. This bottoming of the handle 26 on the ledges 44 is distinct from the modification of FIGS. l-5 since in FIGS. l-5 no contacts is made Y between the handle 26 and the surfaces 23, 23. In all other respects the improved handset Vshown in FIGS. lA-SA is similar and the descriptionV corresponds with that previously setforth and corresponding reference numerals are employed. The interior surfaces 17 are indicated as generally rounded in shape to provide the clearance necessary to avoid contact with the bell shaped handset illustrated in FIG. 1A.

A further improvement in the handset hangers of the present invention is indicated in FlG. 3A wherejthe structure is illustrated in sectional view as being constructed of molded rubber or similar material. The molded Arubber construction of the device provides a substantially rigid overall shape while permitting minutelocal deformation of the rubbery surface at the pressure contact points thereby Yproviding a more secure grip onthe handset than would be the case in a construction employing molded metal or other hard rigid material. The rubber surface` contact also supplies ahigh degree oi friction to increase the retaining force applied to the handset at the lcontact Y points. This'operation providing improved Contact isV distinct, however, from the priorV art handset hangers Y which rely upon yieldableV spring members which require a noticeable deflection force when the handset is inserted.

While various embodiments of the invention have been. illustrated and described, it will? be apparent that many modiiications may be made in the light of the present, teachings Without departing frorn'rthescope of the invention ywhich is defined bythe appendedV claims.

I claim: .Y Y'

1.y A substantially rigid telephone handset hanger comprising abody having -a generally conical downwardly converging opening therein, saidbody being formed byan earpiece contacting surface, and at least aV pair'of projecf tions extending from said surface to dene said opening, said projections being spaced apart to form a handlers# ceiving slot opposed to said surface, the spacing ofrsaidY Vprojections andthe amount by which VYsaid projections eX-f tend from said surface being proportionedto provideco'ntact at six points Y,with a telephone handset placed in said; hanger, two of said'points Abeing contacts between 'opposite surfaces of the handle of V.said handset and opposed edges of said slot to restrain said handset from motion f Y' has spaced transmitter and receiver housingsfeach having f an operating fac-spiace and connected by a handle com-V Y prising a wall bracket deining a flat contact surface, Vapairv of projections securedto said bracket with a spacingltherebetween greater than the dimension of said'iaceplaceandr, converging to form a slot at the endsrof said projections remote from said bracket, and downward projectionsironyj i said ends whichconv'erge l,drn't/nwardly Vto deriinefspaced Y contactgpoints Yfor contacting opposite surfaces Vof gsaid-tzV Y handle.

3. A telephone handset hanger corno-rising a substantialiy rigid body casting formed to provide a generally conical downwardly converging opening therein defined by a first Wall of said casting havin7 a hat vertical outer snrface and an inclined inner surface and a pair of projecting walls secured to said first Wall and having op posed inner surfaces which are concave in both vertical and horizontal sections, said padA o Walls terminating in spaced vertically elongated surfaces which convere downwardly and inwardly to forni an approximately verticai cradle for the depending handle of a telephone handset.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which said concave inner surfaces are formed with opposed projections to adapt said handset hanger to receive different size handsets.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which said body is molded of soit rubber-like material to provide a subrigid shape capable of local deformation at the points of Contact with a handset.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which said rulcber-like material provides a high coecient of friction at said points of Contact with a telephone handset.

7. Apparatus according to clairn 6 in which said concave inner surfaces are formed with opposed proiections to adapt said handset hanger to receive different size handsets.

8. Apnaratus according to claim 3 in which said body has a surface which provides a high coefficient of friction at said points of Contact with a telephone handset.

9. A hanger for removably holding a handset which has a bulbous housing with a depending handle comprising a molded body formed to provide a socket to receive said housing having four points of Contact with said housing, said points being approximately in a horizontal plane at approximately diametrically opposed positions, a pair of spaced depending projections on said body extending beneath an adjacent pair of said points to form an openbottorned vertical trough the side walls of which provide a pair of contact points on opposite sides of said handle a substantial distance below said adjacent pair of points.

l0. A hanger according to claim 9 in which said body is molded of soft rubber-like material to provide a substantially rigid shape capable of local deformation at the points of contact with said handset.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which said body has a surface which provides a high coecient of friction at said points of contact with a handset.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID TELEPHONE HANDSET HANGER COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A GENERALLY CONICAL DOWNWARDLY CONVERGING OPENING THEREIN, SAID BODY BEING FORMED BY AN EARPIECE CONTACTING SURFACE, AND AT LEAST A PAIR OF PROJECTIONS EXTENDING FROM SAID SURFACE TO DEFINE SAID OPENING, SAID PROJECTIONS BEING SPACED APART TO FORM A HANDLE RECEIVING SLOT OPPOSED TO SAID SURFACE, THE SPACING OF SAID TEND FROM SAID SURFACE BEING PROPORTIONED TO PROVIDE CONTACT AT SIX POINTS WITH A TELEPHONE HANDSET PLACED IN SAID HANGER, TWO OF SAID POINTS BEING CONTACTS BETWEEN OPPOSITE SURFACES OF THE HANDLE OF SAID HANDSET AND OPPOSED EDGES OF SAID SLOT TO RESTRAIN SAID HANDSET FROM MOTION IN ANY DIRECTION EXCEPT UPWARD MOTION. 